Ecological Assessments in the B+WISER Sites (Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Upper Marikina-Kaliwa Forest Reserve, Bago River Watershed and Forest Reserve, Naujan Lake National Park and Subwatersheds, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Apo Natural Park) Philippines Biodiversity & Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy & Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) 23 March 2015 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Chemonics International Inc. The Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience Program is funded by the USAID, Contract No. AID-492-C-13-00002 and implemented by Chemonics International in association with: Fauna and Flora International (FFI) Haribon Foundation World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Ecological Assessments in the B+WISER Sites Philippines Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) Program Implemented with: Department of Environment and Natural Resources Other National Government Agencies Local Government Units and Agencies Supported by: United States Agency for International Development Contract No.: AID-492-C-13-00002 Managed by: Chemonics International Inc. in partnership with Fauna and Flora International (FFI) Haribon Foundation World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) 23 March 2015 CONTENTS List of Tables .................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures............................................................................................................... viii List of Annexes ............................................................................................................... ix Acronyms ..................................................................................................................... xiii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... xv I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Recognizing the constraints in making informed Management decisions ......... 1 1.2. Addressing the constraints (Technical Approach: Biodiversity Assessment vs Ecological assessment) ............................................................................ 2 Information Tiers .................................................................................................... 2 HCVA approach ..................................................................................................... 2 II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................................. 5 2.1 Pre-survey ....................................................................................................... 5 Stratification and Sampling design ........................................................................ 5 Transect establishment ......................................................................................... 5 Proxy Sites............................................................................................................. 5 Transect layout .................................................................................................... 12 Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) ......................................................13 Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve (KWFR) and Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) ...........................................................................14 Bago River Watershed, Mt Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) and North Negros Natural Park (NNNP) .............................................................................................15 Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP) .........................................................16 Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) ................................................................................17 2.2. Field Survey Proper ...................................................................................... 18 Vegetation/Habitat Assessment (Tier 1) .............................................................. 18 Broad Habitat Classification ...................................................................................18 Detailed Habitat Assessment .................................................................................18 Tree Diversity and Stand Composition ...................................................................19 Faunal Assessment (Tier 1) ................................................................................ 19 Avifauna .................................................................................................................19 Mammals ...............................................................................................................20 Amphibians and Reptiles .......................................................................................20 ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS IN THE B+WISER SITES | i 2.3. Determination of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Degradation ................... 21 2.4. Data Processing and Analysis ...................................................................... 21 Species-habitat Ordination analysis (Tier 2) ....................................................... 21 Species Occupancy Modeling (Tier 3) ................................................................ 22 Estimating Populations of Key species (Tier 3) ................................................... 22 Species Distribution Modeling (Tier 4) ................................................................ 22 2.5. Species and Site Diagnosis .......................................................................... 23 Determining Species survival envelopes (Tier 2) ................................................ 23 Analysis of congruence of the various Species Distribution Models (Tier 4) ...... 23 Identifying hotspots of land use changes via change detection analysis (Tier 4) ................................................................................................................. 23 2.6. Survey effort ................................................................................................. 24 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................. 26 3.1. Species Richness, Endemism and IUCN Threat Status ................................ 26 NSMNP ................................................................................................................ 26 Plants (Trees) ........................................................................................................26 Birds .......................................................................................................................26 Mammals ...............................................................................................................27 Reptiles and Amphibians .......................................................................................27 KWFR and UMRBPL ........................................................................................... 27 Plants (Trees) ........................................................................................................28 Birds .......................................................................................................................28 Mammals ...............................................................................................................28 Reptiles and Amphibians .......................................................................................28 NLNP ................................................................................................................... 28 Birds .......................................................................................................................29 Reptiles and Amphibians .......................................................................................29 Bago Watershed, MKNP and NNNP ................................................................... 30 Plants (Trees) ........................................................................................................31 Birds .......................................................................................................................31 Mammals ...............................................................................................................31 Reptiles and Amphibians .......................................................................................31 MKRNP ................................................................................................................ 32 Plants (Trees) ........................................................................................................33 Birds .......................................................................................................................33 Mammals ...............................................................................................................33 Reptiles and Amphibians .......................................................................................33 MANP .................................................................................................................